(Ecofin Agency) - In Zimbabwe, tobacco exports generated $855 million up 11% compared to the previous year. This is due to the higher cost for the commodity and higher demand from China. The country exported 152 million kg in 2015 against 136 million kg the year before.

However, Zimbabwe will hardly be able to keep on this trend despite the stable demand from China. This as a consequence of the El Niño phenomenon.

According to Andrew Matibiri which heads the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), the meteorological phenomenon forced producers to postpone seed planting. Authorities thus expect a fall in national output. El Niño could expose about 14 million people to hunger in Southern Africa.

Aaron Akinocho